Folding and gathering device.



A. 'LEVETT.

FOLDING AND GATHERING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10. I918.

Patented Mar. 4,1919.

INVENTOR Alex/eff v Wwi A TTOR/VEYS WITNESSES FOLDING AND GATHERING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

Application filed May 10, 1918. Serial No. 233,751.

following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a contrivance whereby suitable materials can be folded and gathered by a simple method which does not require a skilful operator and which is, therefore, economical.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which is particularly suitable for the manufacture of bufling wheels or circular brushes.

I attain the above and other objects of my invention by the structure conventionally disclosed in the accompanying drawings, wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views and in which- Figure l is a vertical section through a form of my device;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the ejecting end of the needle; and

Fig. 4 is an elevation of an article gathered by my method and with my device.

To form rosettes or bufling wheels by my device, I form a sleeve of pliable material, the diameter of which sleeve is substantially equal to the diameter of the rosette or bufiing wheel to be formed. The sleeve so formed is then drawn into a groove so that it is bound to fold and gather while it is folding. To retain the rosette or buffing wheel in the desired folded and gathered position, I provide a center core against which the folded and gathered material is tied by suitable means.

Referring to the drawings, 7 is a sleeve of pliable material which is to be gathered to obtain either a rosette or a bufling wheel. To, properly fold and draw the sleeve, I pr0- vide a pair of disks 8 the diameter of which is substantially equal to the diameter of the rosette or bufling wheel to be formed. One of the disks is supported by a cylindrical guide 9 preferably having the same diameter as the disk, and which guide is in turn supported on a suitable base 10. The lower disk 8 also carries an axle pin 11 rising above the disk on to which the core 12 of the rosette or buffing wheel is fitted. The diameter and thickness of said core will vary according'to the size of the wheel desired. The upper disk 8 has an axial aperture adapted to be engaged by the pin 11. The core has also such an aperture for the pin. The center core spaces the two disks and provides the necessary groove between the two disks into which the sleeve may be drawn after the sleeve is fitted, as shown in Fig. 1. To facilitate the fitting of the sleeve 7, the upper disk is provided with a frusto-cone-shaped guide 13.

To prevent unevenness in gathering the material while it is folded, I provide a plurality of needles 14 disposed symmetrically on the base 10 about the disks 8. Each needle is mounted in a corresponding guide 15, which allows the needle to reciprocate radially to and from the disks. Each of the needles is provided with a spring 16 which normally tends to draw the needle away from the center of the disks. The simultaneous movement of the needles toward the disks is controlled by a flexible member 17, such as a wire or cable, which is threaded through suitable eyes inthe needles. The flexible member 17 is passed through suitable guiding blocks 18 and then connected to a pedal 19 whereby said needle can be all drawn toward the core 12 placed between the disks. The sharp points of the needles puncturing the material 7 of the sleeve prevent the sleeve from turning while it is pushed by the needles into the groove, therefore while it is folded and gathered the material of the sleeve is prevented from being drawn more on one side than on the other; in consequence, the gathering is substantially uniform while the sleeve is folded.

Each needle is also provided with a niche or dent 20 for receiving a tying string 21 which is carried by the needles while they fold and gather the material of the sleeve; and when the needles are brought against the core 12, the tying string 21 can be drawn tight against the core 12 and tied thereat. By releasing the pressure on the pedal the springs 16 will draw the needles to their original position carrying therewith the flexible member 17. The upper disk can then be taken off and the folded material with the core removed. Another core can then be placed and the operation repeated.

The material so folded and gathered about the core can then be firmly secured thereto by sewing to each face of the folded and gathered material circular blanks 22 which inclose the core, thereby preventing an accidental disarrange'ment of the material after the same has been folded and gathered as described: The center core may be of any suitable material but preferably pasteboard is used for the purpose.

In cases where bufling wheels are to be made the ends of the sleeve 7 formed are provided with additional sleeve sections so as to increase the thickness of the buffing wheel at the margin after the same is folded in a manner as described, in other words, to compensate for the material that gathers at the center when the sleeve is folded in the manner as described.

To manufacture circular brushes bristles may be secured to a sleeve of material such as sleeve 7, the bristles running parallel to the elements of the cylinder. By folding the sleeve with the bristles attached thereto in the manner as described against a central core, the bristles will extend radially. By firmly securing the bristles folded against the core to the core by means of a blank 22,

as previously described, and then removing the margin of the sleeve 7 which has been folded about the bristles up to the blanks, a circular brush will result.

From the above description'it will be seen that with my device folding and gathering of material suitable for the purpose can be accomplished very easily and a sk'ilful operator is not required for the purpose. That this method of folding and gathering is not limited to rosettes and buffing wheels is selfevident', for it will apply whenever foldable material is to be gathered into a circle. 7

While I have described the principle of operation, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made as are within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 7

1. In a folding andgathering device, a

pair of spaced disks, a support for maintaining said disks one above the other, means associated with the disks for guiding a sleeve of pliable material over the disks, and means for drawing the material of the sleeve into the groove formed by the spaced disks.

2. Ina folding and gathering device, a bed, a disk, means supporting said disk on the bed, said means constituting a guide on to which a sleeve of pliable material may be fitted, a .pin projecting axially from said disk adapted to detachablyreceive a core member, a second disk detachably engaging the pin, a guide on saidsecond disk for facilitating the feeding of the sleeve over the disks, and means for drawing the material of the sleeve between the disks toward the core member. 7

3. In a folding and gathering device, a

bed, a disk mounted on said bed, a pin projecting from said disk adapted to receive a core, a second disk 'detachably engaging the pin and resting on such core, a guide for said second disk for facilitating the fitting of a sleeve of pliable material over the disks, a plurality of needles on said bed disposed symmetrically about the disks and adapted to be reciproc'atedbetween the disks, and means for reciprocating said needles where'- by the material of the sleeve when fitted on the disk is drawn between the disks toward the core. 7

i. A folding and gathering device comprising a pair of disks, spaced apart to form a groove, needles disposed to move in and out of the groove, yielding means associated with the needles for normally drawing the needles out of the groove, afiexible member connecting the needles, means for guiding the flexible member, and means for actuating the flexible member whereby the {needles may be drawn simultaneously into the groove against the resistance of the sprin 5. In a folding and gathering device, a pair of detachably associated disks, spaced apart to form an annular groove iterate tween, a guide associated with each *disk'to facilitate the fitting "of a sleeve of 'pli'able sleeve into the groove, including means for I preventing the material of the sleeve from turning while it is being forced into the groove, and means for tying the materialof the sleeve after folding the material.

7. A folding and gathering-device com prising a pair of superimposed separable disks, spaced apart to form annular groove, guiding means associated with the disks to facilitate the fitting of a sleeve of pliable material over the "disks, needles mounted to reciprocate in and out of the groove formed by the disks, yielding means normally resisting the movement fof the needles toward the center of the disks, a flexible member connecting said needles, means for operating said flexible member whereby all of aid needles ma be drawn into the groove against the resistance of the yielding means, and a tying string carried by said needles for securing the material of the sleeve to a core after the material has been folded by the needles entering the groove formed by the disks.

8. In a folding and gathering device, a structure arranged to receive pliable material thereon in the form of a sleeve or cylinder, aid structure presenting an annular groove into which the pliable material so wound may be drawn to fold the same, and means for drawing the sleeve including means for preventing a shifting movement of the pliable material while the same is being drawn into the groove.

9. In a folding and gathering device, two spaced members adapted to form an annular groove therebetween, said members being so formed that pliable material can be wound thereon, means for drawing the pliable material into the groove, and means for preventing the pliable material from turning on aid members while it is drawn into the groove.

10. In a folding and gathering device, a pair of detachably associated members, a detachable core adapted to be interposed between the two members whereby an annular groove is formed between said members, said pair of members adapted to receive pliable material in the shape of a sleeve, needles movable into the groove for forcing the pliable material thereinto, and means for drawing the material against the core while the needles, are moved whereby said pliable material is folded within the groove substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ALEXANDER LEVETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

